Is your thyroid causing your weight gain?

Over the past 20+ years of working with clients, the question that has come up frequently is, “Are my hormones causing me to gain weight?” The complex interactions between the many hormones in your body can actually affect your metabolism and weight. To get a better picture of your hormonal health, you first need to take a look at your thyroid.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the middle of the lower neck that produces a hormone that affects every cell in the body. The thyroid is responsible for regulating heart rate, body temperature and metabolism, which ultimately affects your weight.

According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, approximately 27 million people in America suffer from it Thyroid disease and 13 million people are currently undiagnosed. The risk of developing thyroid disease increases with age, and women are seven times more likely to be diagnosed than men.

Thyroid disease falls into two categories: hypothyroidism (underactive) and hyperthyroidism (overactive). Here are some of the symptoms associated with each type:

If you have multiple symptoms and want to know if your thyroid is not functioning normally, we recommend that you see your doctor and have him or her perform a thyroid panel. Most doctors only check your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), which gives a pretty good picture of your thyroid health. A study published in 2014 Plus one showed a connection between TSH blood levels and body weight. If your body produces too much TSH, you probably have hypothyroidism. If it doesn't produce enough TSH, your thyroid is overactive. The “normal” range for TSH varies between laboratories and practitioners, but most endocrinologists and functional medicine practitioners believe that a narrower range helps better diagnose thyroid disease. For some people, TSH is so sensitive that even within the “normal” range, they still experience symptoms. If your TSH levels are outside the normal range, further testing will be needed, particularly to see if antibodies are being produced. This will help your doctor determine whether your thyroid condition is autoimmune in nature. According to Dr. Datis Kharrazian, author ofWhy do I still have thyroid problems? If my lab tests are normal,Most cases of hypothyroidism are the autoimmune disease Hashimoto's, in which the immune system attacks the thyroid.

Treatment for hypothyroidism depends on the symptoms, laboratory values, and type of doctor. Some doctors only prescribe a thyroid medication like Synthroid, but many functional medicine practitioners believe this only treats the symptoms. Adding thyroid medication is not a weight loss treatment and may cause side effects such as bone loss. According to the American Thyroid Association, "There are many other hormones (other than thyroid hormone), proteins, and other chemicals that are very important in controlling energy expenditure, food intake, and body weight. Because all of these substances interact with both the brain centers that regulate energy expenditure and the tissues throughout the body that control energy expenditure and energy intake, we cannot predict how changing just one of these factors (such as thyroid hormone) will affect body weight as a whole."

Other experts believe that attacking the root cause of thyroid disease as well as nutritionally supporting a healthy thyroid is the key to reversing thyroid disease.

Steps to Support a Healthy Thyroid

1. Boost Antioxidants –To keep your thyroid healthy, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables that are rich in antioxidants, such as cherries, tomatoes, peppers, pumpkin, and blueberries. If you have hypothyroidism, you should limit soy and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts) as these can reduce thyroid hormone production.

2. Sneak into Selenium –Selenium is a mineral that acts like an antioxidant. Selenium-containing enzymes protect the thyroid under stressful conditions, while selenium-containing proteins regulate hormone synthesis. These proteins and enzymes help regulate metabolism. Low selenium intake also correlates with Graves' disease, an autoimmune-related hyperthyroidism. Selenium is found in Brazil nuts, turkey, tuna and sunflower seeds.

3. Replace refined grains –Refined grains (pasta, white rice, white bread, cereal) also put a strain on your thyroid. Instead, choose whole grains like oats, buckwheat, and the pseudograins quinoa and amaranth (both are actually seeds). Replacing some grains with healthy fats has also been shown to help balance hormones and be helpful with your thyroid.

4. Increase Iodine –The thyroid uses iodine from food to produce thyroid hormone. Iodine is found in algae, fish and iodized salt. However, in cases of Hashimoto's, additional iodine does not help the thyroid.

5. Consider Eliminating Gluten and Dairy –Many people suffer from leaky gut, a condition in which large proteins such as gluten (found in wheat, rye, and barley) and casein (found in dairy products) enter the bloodstream and destroy the thyroid and cause inflammation throughout the body. Replacing these foods with gluten-free grains or eliminating grains, as well as choosing a2 dairy products or goat and sheep milk products, can help heal the thyroid.

6. Calm cortisol –Cortisol is known as a stress hormone and elevated cortisol has been linked to weight gain.

7. Exercise –Aerobic exercise promotes and improves blood circulation throughout the body. It burns calories, increases muscle mass to boost metabolism, and promotes blood flow of thyroid hormones.

While all of these can help your thyroid, it is always recommended to speak to your doctor to find out which option is best for you.